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UNIVERSITY  OF 
NORTH  CAROLINA 


Sclsaaa 


This  BOOK  may  be  kept  out  TWO  WEEKS 
ONLY,  and  is  subject  to  a  fine  of  FIVE 
CENTS  a  day  thereafter.  It  was  taken  out  on 
the  day  indicated  below: 


...  ■  ..'    /ff6>, 


Christmas  Roses. 


PSes 


<iWbO»y 


l^ofcert   ^e  T^acX 


New  Vork.-. 
C  P.  Dutton  &.  Compan/ 

3 V West  Twenty- Third  Street. 


BUNCH  oS.  Christmas  Roses,  dear, 
To  greet  my  fairest  child, 

I  plucked  them  in  my  garden  where 
The  drifting  snow  lay  piled. 


I  cannot  bring  thee  violets  dear, 
Or  cowslips  growing  wild, 

Or  daisy  chain  for  thee  to  wear, 
For  thee  to  wear,  my  child. 

For  all  the  grassy  meadows  near 

Are  clad  with  snow,  my  child; 

Through  all  the  days  of  winter  drear 
No  ray  of  sun  has  smiled. 


I  plucked  this  bunch  of  verses,  dear, 
From  out  my  garden  wild, 

I  plucked  them  in  the  winter  drear 
For  you,  my  fairest  child, 

Your  wet  and  wintry  hours  to  cheer, 
They're  Christmas  Roses,  child 


■\ 


?r*t 


#^ 


THE    CHRISTMAS    STOCKING. 


* 


/DONT  believe  that  Santa  Claus  will  come  to  you  and  me," 
Said  little  crippled  Nell,"  a'cause,  we  are  so  poor  you  see; 
And  then  I  don't  believe  the  'chimbley's'  wide  enough  for  him, 
D'ye  think  that  Santa  Claus  will  come,  when  all  the  lights  arc  dim,  " 
"  Of  course  he  comes  to  every  one,  dear,  whether  rich  or  poor; 
Now  go  to  bed  dear  Nell,"  said  Nan,  "he'll  come  to-night  I'm  sure." 

$;  $  $  :£  * 

I  don't  know  if  by  chimney  or  if  by  stair  he  crept, 
But  sure  enough  he  visited  the  room  where  Nelly  slept. 
He  brought  a  golden  orange,  and  a  monkey  red  and  blue, 
That  climbed  a  little  wooden  stick  in  a  way  I  couldn't  do. 
He  hung  them  in  Nell's  stocking,  and  Nan  was  right,  be  sure, 
That  Santa  Claus  loves  every  one  however  rich  or  poor. 


%fc. 


THE    PET   RABBIT. 


/HA  VE  a  little  Bunny  with  a  coat  as  soft  as  down, 
And  nearly  all  of  him  is  white  except  one  bit  of  brown. 
The  first  thing  in  the  morning  when  I  get  out  of  bed, 
I  wonder  if  my  Bunny's  still  safe  in  his  little  shed. 


And  than  the  next  thing  that  I  do  I  dare  say  you  have  guessed; 
It's  to  go  at  once  and  see  him,  when  I  am  washed  and  dressed. 
And  every  day  I  see  him  I  like  him  more  and  more, 
And  each  day  he  is  bigger  than  he  was  the  day  before. 


I  feed  him  in  the  morning  with  bran  and  bits  of  bread, 
And  every  night  I  take  some  straw  to  make  his  little  bed. 
What  with  carrots  in  the  morning  and  turnip-tops  for  tea, 
If  a  bunny  can  be  happy,  I'm  sure  he  ought  to  be. 


Then  when  it's  nearly  bedtime  I  go  down  to  his  shed, 

And  say  'Good  night  you  Bunny'  before  I  go  to  bed. 

I  think  there's  only  one  thing  that  would  make  me  happy  quite, 

If  I  could  take  my  Bunny  dear  with  me  to  bed  at  night?" 


The  Pet  Rabbit. 


FATHERS    BOAT. 

/T'S  Father's  boat  we're  watching, 
Away  out  on  the  sea, 
She's  named  the  Pretty  Polly, 

One  hundred  and  ninety  three, 
Father  called  her  the  Polly, 

After  Mother  and  me. 

There  isn't  a  smarter  boat 

Than  Father's  on  the  sea, 

The  Pretty  Polly  is  our  ship, 

Father's  the  skipper  is  he, 

And  we  are  watching  for  Father, 

We're  watching,  Nancy  and  me. 

Sometimes  the  wind  blows  wildly, 

But  Nancy,  and  Mother,  and  me, 

We  sing  a  bit  of  a  hymn  we  know, 
The  hymn  for  those  at  sea, 

Although  when  we  think  of  Father, 

We're  as  near  to  choke  as  can  be. 


To  night  the  moon  will  be  shining, 
A  sight  it  will  be  to  see, 

Father's  ship  all  in  silver, 

A'sail  on  a  silver  sea, 

And  Father  himself  a  coming  home 

To  Mother  and  Nancy  and  me 


Fathers  Boat. 


£"#■ 


3 


A    MISTAKE. 

"     71    /F Fdears,  whatever  are  you  at? 
-±-  *-*-     You  ought  to  be  at  home; 

I  told  you  not  to  wet  your  feet — 
I  told  you  not  to  roam. 

"Oh,  dear!  I'm  sure  you  will  be  drowned! 

/never  saw  such  tricks! 
Come  home  at  once,  and  go  to  bed, 

You  naughty  naughty  chicks.  " 


Now  most  of  them  were  five  days  old, 

But  one,  whose  age  was  six — 
"Please,  ma'am,"  said  he,"  I  think  we're  ducks; 

I  don't  believe  we're  chicks!" 


*  '\0> 


Little   Ducks 


A    SAD    TALE. 


d  he; 


"     JTZHO'S  afraid  of  a  cat  ? "  sai 
r    r         "  I'm  not  afraid  of  a  cat.  " 

He  was  a  bird  who  sat  on  a  rail, 

With  five  other  birds,  and  this  was  his  tale . 
"  I'm  not  afraid  of  a  cat.  " 

"I  might  be  afraid  if  I  were  a  mouse, 
Or  even  if  I  were  a  rat : 

But  as  I'm  a  bird 

I  give  you  my  word 
I'm  not  afraid  of  a  cat.  " 

A  cat  and  her  kits  came  down  on  the  scene, 
Five  birds  flew  over  the  rail ; 

Our  hero  was  caught 

As  quick  as  a  thought. 
And  didn't  he  alter  his  tale! 

"You've  made  a  mistake,  Mister  Cat,"  said  he; 
"  You  must  please  let  me  go,  Mister  Cat. 

I'm  not  at  all  nice, 

I  don't  taste  like  mice: 
You'd  much  better  have  a  young  rat. " 

Said  the  cat,  "  It's  no  use, 

You  may  be  a  goose, 
I'll  not  let  you  go  for  all  that.  " 


THE    CREW    OF    Till',     NANCY    LEE, 


P 


OLLY'S  the  mate  of  the  Nancy  Lee, 
And  Tom  is  the  skipper  hold, 

They  sail  together 

In  rough  wind  and  weather, 
And  they  are  the  crew,  all  told. 


In  their  taut  and  trim  little  boat  they  ride 
Away  o'er  the  bright  blue  sea. 
With  hands  ever  ready, 
And  hearts  ever  steady, 
\\  hatever  the  dangers  mav  be. 
And  a  smarter  crew  will  never  be  found, 
Though  you  may  search  the  whole  world  round 


13 


Hie  For  Christmas' 


HIE    FOR    CHRISTMAS! 


.     -     «  RING  Frost,  bring  Snow, 

Come  winter, 

Bring  us  holly, 
Bring  Joy  at  Christmas, 

Off  with  Melancholy ! 

Sing  hie,  sing  hey, 

Sing  ho, 

Sing  holly, 
Sing  hie  for  Christmas  1 

Isn't  winter  jolly  ? 

Sing  Jack,    Sing  Jill, 

Sing  Jo, 

Sing  Polly, 
Sing  hie  for  Christmas, 

Mistletoe  and  Holly. 


15 


Putting   Away  The  Toys. 


/; 


BEDTIME. 

T'S  bedtime,  bedtime,  Cissy  dear. 
It's  time  in  put  away. 
Your  little  Noah's  ark  dear 

Until  another  day, 
You  know  it  isn't  right  at  all 

To  tire  yourself  with  play. 

And  they  too  must  be  tired  dear. 

The  elephants  want  to  go 
To  bed,  —  if  they're  much  later. 

They'll  all  be  dl  I  know, 
Ami  every  well  bred  camel, 

Is  in  bed  long  ago. 


,\ 


And  surely  you  can  see  dear. 

It  really  isn't  right. 
The  little  dove's  so  tired  dear, 

She  scarce  can  stand  upright 
It  does  not  do  to  keep  them  up 

So  very  late  at  night." 


=±- 


PUSS    IN    THE    CORNER. 

'      T    7~  OU  are  a  naughty  pussy-cat, 
J^       I  think  it  right  to  mention  that 
To  all  who  see  your  picture  here, 
'  Twas  you  who  broke  my  Bunny  dear. 

An   hour  ago,  as  you  can  tell, 
I  left  him  here,  alive  and  well; 
And  now  he's  dead  and,  what  is  more, 
You've  broke  his  leg  I'm  pretty  sure. 

For  you  my  puss  I'll  never  care, 
No  never,  never,  never,  there, 
And  you  are  in  disgrace  you  know, 
And  in  the  corner  you  must  go. 

What  crying?     Then  I  must  cry  too 
And  I  can't  bear  to  punish  you  ; 
Perhaps  my  Bunny  isn't  dead. 
Perhaps  you've  only  stunned  his  head. 

And  though  I'm  sure  you  broke  his  leg, 
It  may  be  mended  with  a  peg, 
And  though  he's  very,  very,  funny, 
My  Bunny's  not  a  real  Bunny, 
And  I'll  forgive  and  tell  you  that, 
You're  my  own  precious  pussy  cat.  " 


18 


THE   LITTLE    HE   AND    SHE. 


o 


NCE  there  lived,  I'm  not  sure  where, 

May  be  Arcadee, 
Sweet-Heart  and  his  mistress  fair, 

Little  He  and  She; 


And  they  danced  a  measure  light, 
Danced  in  very  glee. 

Hand  in  hand,  a  pretty  sight, 
Little  He  and  She. 

When  they  ceased  his  bright  eyes  fell, 

Darling  must  we  stay  ? 
Can't  we  dance  so  happily 

You  and  I  for  aye  ? 

Then  she  clasped  his  hand  again, 
Whispered  sweet  and  low, 

"  Dearest,  always  hand  in  hand 
You  and  I  will  go.  " 


So  they  danced  with  merry  feet, 

E'en  in  Arcadee, 
Happier  pair  you  ne'er  will  meet, 

Little  He  and  She. 


:.**..-- 


LITTLE    BO-PEEP. 

ITTLE  Bo  peep 

has  lost  her  Sheep, 
(It's  a  secret  to  you 
I'm  confiding.) 
At  the  end  of  the  shelf, 
\\  here  she  put  them  herself 
Her  Baa-lambs  are  safely  hiding. 

If  you  put  a  thing  carefully,  safely  away, 

You're  sure  not  to  find  it  when  wanted  next  day. 


H 


-\RS 


I/O  PES  AXD   EF.ARS. 


L 


IKE.  clouds  that  flit  across  the  sky, 

So  follow  hopes  and  fears. 

What  in  these  clouds  see  you  and  me 
Dear  Sweetheart,  smiles  or  tears? 


This  little  airy  fleecy  wing, 

That  flits  across  the  blue, 
What  message  Sweetheart  does  it  bring 

Of  hope  or  fear  to  you? 


Pray  God  it  bring"?  you  sunny  hours 

And  haply  some  few  tears 
To  bless  like  showers  your  summer  flowers 

In  the  long  coming  years. 


23 


5 


THE    STORY   BOOK   FAIRY. 
/ 
HALL  I  smg.  v^tCa  song,  not  short  and  not  long, 
Of  a  st<5n>Wook  fairy  \yho  hides  all  among 
The  covers  and  leaves  of  your  pictures  and  prints, 
_^And  colors  them  all  with  such  beautiful  tints: 

First  he  kisses  the  girls  with  the  fairest  of  curls 
Then  Ahey  blush  like  red  roses  and  each  rread  whirls. 
In  each  little  eye  drops  a  bit  of  blue  sky,   ^Jfcp" 
And  colors  each  frock  with  a  wonderful  tlv^mij;4 

His  breathing  I  ween  is  the  wonderful  sheen, 
That  clothes  trees  and  meadows  with  loveliest  green. 
The  buttercups  bold,  it  need  hardly  be  told. 
Are  gilded  by  him  with  the  finest  of  gold. 

It  is  he  I  suppose  who  paints  the  red  rose, 
And  the  rest  of  the  flowers  which  every  one  knows, 
And  the  same  red  will  do  (or  a  similar  hue), 
For  Robin  and  little  Red  Riding  Hood  too. 

He's  awake  it  is  said  when  you  are  abed, 
For  the  picture-book  doggies  and  cats  must  be  fed, 
To  the  picture-book  children  some  stories  he'll  tell, 
And  sometimes  he'll  read  them  their  verses  as  well. 

The  moment  you  open  your  picture  book  he 
Is  away  out  of  sight  as  quick  as  can  be. 
For  fairy  law  savs  that  a  fairy  must  die 
The  instant  he's  seen  by  one  human  eve. 


24 


SFKING. 

/" i  ">  ///•.  iin\  crocus  is  so  bold 
I       It  peeps  its  head  above  the  mould, 
Before  the  flowers  awaken, 
To  say  that  spring  is  coming,  dear, 
With  sunshine  and  that  winter  drear 
Will  soon  be  overtaken. 


GOLDEN  DAYS. 

rHERE  are  days  of  summer  sunshine. 
Of  warm  and  sunny  weather, 
When  the  hedge  is  full  of  hawthorn 
And  hills  are  glad  with  heather. 

There  are  days  of  silent  sadness, 

Of  frost,  and  snow,  and  rain, 
When  we  fear  that  summer's  gladness 

Will  never  come  again. 

And  now  our  songs  are  minor  key, 

And  now  in  merry  tune; 
The  windward  side  will  change  to  lee, 

And  January  to  June. 

Day  and  night  the  sun  is  shining, 
Though  he  may  hide  his  head; 

Each  cloud  has  a  silver  lining, 
The  flowers  are  asleep  not  dead. 

Every  day  may  have  its  playtime 

Made  bright  by  cheerful  lays; 
And  life  be  one  long  Maytime, 

A  year  of  golden  days. 


26 


A    SLANDER. 

"    C^HAKE  hands,  shake  hands  my  little  girl," 
^3  Said  Mister  Crab  to  Nell, 

"  I'm  very  glad  to  meet  you  dear, 

I  hope  you  are  quite  well. 
I  think  it's  very  hot  to-day, 
I  feel  it  in  my  shell." 

"I  can't  shake  hands  with  you,"  said  Nell, 

"It  isn't  thought  polite, 
Without  an  introduction; 

Besides,  no  doubt  it's  spite, 
It  mayn't  be  true,  but  still  they  do, 

They  do  say  that  you— BITE." 


28 


A    SONG. 

HEAR  a  Song 
I  think 'tis  a  thrush's. 
He  sings  to  the  Wild  Rose; 
See  how  she  blushes ! 


29 


v 


NEARLY   BEDTIME. 


o 


XL  i'h.ilf  an  hour  or  so 

Before  nurse  calls  them  to  Led, 
And  the  ruddy  light  of  a  cheerful  lire 
Shine  over  each  curly  head. 


No  trouble  have  they,  no  sorrow — 
Their  hearts  are  lighter  than  air, 

No  fear  that  a  dark  to-morrow 
May  bring  with  it  want  or  care. 

God  send  them  each  on  their  pathway 

Many  a  wayside  flower; 
And  grant,  in  the  evening  of  lifetime, 

The  joy  of  the  evening  hour 


3' 


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